My life in the center of the world -- musings on my family, community (local, global, physical and virtual), people and more. Oh and of course, a few words on tech related start-ups, within the context of living in the ulimate start-up with humble goal of repairing the world. Venture backed by over 3,000 years of history, thought, culture, and angst.
By Jacob Ner-David

May 22, 2011

Before reading President Obama’s speech I saw this FB status update flash across my screen from a fellow Israeli friend, someone I always assumed was “mainstream” Israeli:

“#obama can go F himself big time - this is the person who represents himself as a friend for israel? he's our worst enemy”

OK, so what prompted such a harsh reaction? I went to read the speech…and honestly cannot understand what got this friend so upset… (see here for full text of speech). A Palestinian state based on 67 borders with land swaps – isn’t that what several Israeli Prime Minister s proposed? And recently past heads of the Mossad, IDF, and Shabak (Israeli FBI) called for the same negotiating parameters. I think my friend above was reacting to reactions…I don’t think he read the speech! This is a symptom of living life in 140 characters, the limits of a tweet. A lot gets missed.

My personal take on all of this is that Obama was really holding back. Bibi has told the world for two years that he wants to re-start the peace talks, that he supports a 2 state solution, and yet he has done nothing to further that goal, in fact has gone out of his way to continue settlement activity (beside a weird ten month lull in building, which was observed in the breach). Bibi has refused to come to the Israeli people with a plan for us to support or reject. Bibi is not preparing the Israeli people at all for any eventual path to compromise which might lead to more peaceful relations with our neighbors.

Bibi and friends operate from a false sense of certainty that Israel will be the “winner” of the turbulence sweeping the Middle East and the world. As someone who cares deeply about the future of this experiment we call the State of Israel, I am extremely troubled by Bibi’s lack of humility.

The State of Israel has existed for 63 years, but there is no guarantee it will continue. By might we will not survive. Our only hope is to maintain our moral right to continue as a sovereign nation. And for years that moral right has been slipping away – not because the world does not want to see a viable State of Israel, but precisely because the world expects so much of a viable State of Israel.

Bibi continues to harp on the demand that everyone, including the Palestinian people through some of their formal institutions (PLO, PA, Hamas government in Gaza) recognize the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people. In fact, it was President Obama yesterday who reiterated this, and the American government’s commitment to: “Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people.” Personally, I don't need my enemies to recognize the justness of my existence. More important that my friends support me.

But what kind of “Jewish state” does Bibi envision? One of stagnation and occupation?

For 44 years we have kept Judea and Samaria (and its residents) in limbo. In East Jerusalem we half-heartedly annexed land, but never brought the infrastructure up to the level of West Jerusalem. We do everything we can as a government to disenfranchise Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. As I have often said, if we truly want to keep East Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, we need to invest. We need to campaign for the residents of East Jerusalem to participate in municipal politics (as a rule, for 44 years East Jerusalem Palestinians have not exercised their rights to vote or participate in the administration of the city).

I referred above to State of Israel as an experiment. And an experiment it is, it could be a model for many of our neighboring states on how a State formed and based on a religo-nation can conduct itself – how we can take the best of our religious tradition, synthesize those values and ideals with the modern recognition of the values of liberal democracy and show off a taste of Messiah. Not the Armageddon of some, but the realization of the Jewish age-old pursuit of “tikkun olam,” of fixing the world.

But experiments can also fail.

Bibi and many others take great pride in Israel’s start-up culture. My friend Saul Singers book “Start-Up Nation” has become a best seller because there is an underlying statement that in a start-up anything is possible. Israel is a state of dreamers, and as a State it dreams as well. But as one who has lived his life amongst start-ups for some time, I call upon us to remember that most start-ups fail.

I do not want this start-up to fail. It is the big, outdated companies that are slow to move, do not react to changes in the marketplace, fail to innovate. Israel as a modern nation is still in its start-up phase, and should be moving at a start-up pace.

We need to re-invigorate a sense of entrepreneurship in our political realm. And then we will begin to merit the status of “Start-Up Nation.”

December 15, 2009

This Friday morning is the celebration of the new month ("Rosh Chodesh") of Tevet, which as usual makes it a special day, when the days of holiday of Hanuka are raised to even higher level with the double celebration of Hanuka and the New Month. As on every Rosh Chodesh a dedicated group of women will gather at the remnants of the Second Temple (known as the "Western Wall" or at times the "Wailing Wall") to usher in the new month together, as they have been doing for 21 years. These women come in rain or shine, no matter what else is happening in the world or around them.

For close to 13 years my wife, Rabbi Dr. Haviva Ner-David was a very active member of this group. After we moved to the Galil 6 months ago she has not attended in person. But she will there this Friday morning, as a celebration of the holiday and as an act of solidarity with all women (and men) who seek to express their spirituality in ways other than the official ultra-orthodox position.

Below is a letter from a friend of ours, Rena Magun, which I think says it all, inviting all who can to eb physcially present at the Wall this Friday morning. I will be here in Hanaton, with some of our kids and meeting together with our fellow pioneers in building a new community, but with deep feelings and connections to Jerusalem, our home for 13 years and the heart of the Jewish people.

I pray that this Hanuka our ultra-orthodox brethren will realize that the Wall represents the destruction of the Temple and the Second Jewish commonwealth largely because of senseless hatred ("Sina'at Hinam") and the last thing we should be doing on Hanuka is fighting amongst ourselves, but rather respecting all the wonderful ways to be Jewish today.

As some of you know,
on Nov 18th a young woman named Nofrat Frankel was arrested (!) at
the Kotel for wearing a tallit. She was praying as part of the monthly Rosh
Chodesh gathering of Women at the Wall that has been going on for 21 years this
month. You can read more about their history and ongoing struggle with
the Israeli legal system at http://womenofthewall.blogspot.com/.

For me, a woman who
wears a tallit, Nofrat's arrest was frightening and deeply disturbing. On
the one hand, I long ago stopped relating to the Kotel religiously because I
feel so alienated as a woman when I pray there. On the other hand, how
can it be that almost all over the world, a woman can feel free to wear a
tallit, EXCEPT at the Kotel in Jerusalem,
the holiest of cities. The reason given is that the Kotel is considered
an Orthodox synagogue, and that people praying there must respect those
norms. What was once the small annoyance of an old woman giving you a
shawl to wrap around your shoulders or legs if you weren't modestly dressed,
has evolved over time into gender segregated entranceways (!), a complete ban
on groups of men and women praying together even way, way back in the Plaza,
and now an arrest for wearing a tallit.

THE KOTEL
DOES NOT BELONG TO THE ORTHODOX ESTABLISHMENT IN THIS COUNTRY. IT BELONGS TO
ALL JEWS.

On Friday morning,
Dec 18th, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the 7th day of Chanukah, at
7:00 am,
Women of the Wall will be gathering to daven with their tallitot under their
coats. If enough women come, they will open their coats. Imagine if you will, what would happen if thousands of
women with tallitot came to join the davening…it is not an impossible
feat. If we all come out, it could easily happen.

For those of you who
don’t usually wear a tallit, consider doing so this once (and maybe afterwards
as well) as a statement of solidarity for the struggle for religious freedom
that these women have been waging for 21 years. After all, one day you or
your daughter might want to wear a tallit at the Kotel. Right now that is
impossible, and without your help it may remain impossible forever.

PLEASE
FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT COME OR HAVE FRIENDS WHO MIGHT COME.

I am sad to say I
have removed my contact info from the signature of this e-mail for fear of
reprisal from extremists.

August 26, 2009

This morning we went through the final hoop along the circus act known as conversion in Israel. As many of you know, we adopted our sixth child, Mishael Binyamin, almost 18 months ago. We have been winding our way through the bureaucracy of the Israeli social systems ever since. On top of all the obstacle courses set up for families who adopt, our journey was made even more special due to the fact that Mishael was not "born Jewish." Of course, what does it mean to be "born Jewish?" Nu, subject of postings to come.

The beginning of the process was an application to the Israeli formal conversion office, which actually is an arm of the Office of the Prime Minister. After many months of being ignored, finally we were granted an interview with the "Beit Din," or religious court, made up of three rabbinical judges. These days Mishael talks up a storm, then he was a little more reserved, as many one year olds are. So we were asked a series of questions, we gave the rights answers, next stop, which was to wait for a brit mila, or circumcision.

Finally that came together, after many bumps in the road, some of which were right out of Abbot and Costello mixed with Kafka (example: Mishael does not have an ID number because his adoption is not complete yet, adoption can't be completed until conversion is completed. Conversion office were insisting he couldn't have a brit mila without an ID number....).

After the brit mila comes the ritual immersion, the mikveh. The brit mila was in Bat Yam, even though we were living in Jerusalem, because get this, no mohelim (authorized religious surgeons) are currently under contract with the conversion office in Jerusalem. Believe it or now. The mikveh...well, the only mikveh currently serving conversion is in Tsfat. We were actually happy to go to Tsfat, as we know live relatively close (yes, I know, I owe a few blog postings on the move to Galillee -- they will come). Just funny again that that is the only place to go.

Well, we made it there, again after few false starts, and Mishael enjoyed himself in the dunking.

April 08, 2009

As usual, the Israeli government and security apparatus, in their infinite wisdom, chose the day before Pesach to finally carry out the destruction order on the house of one of the "tractor" terrorists in the village of Tzur Bacher, just 2 kilometers from my house, on the Southern edge of Jerusalem.

Putting the issue of the timing (I can't even begin to write about that), and even putting aside the proven uselessness of house demotion as a deterent against future terrorism (numerous ISRAELI GOVERNMENT panels have concluded hosue demolitions have zero deterant value), want to address the fact that during this event a 20 year old Jerusalemite (resident of Jabel Mukaber, next door village to Tzur Bacher) was killed by the Israeli security forces, and you probably don't even know. It was not reported on even in today's Yediot Achranot, Israel's most widely read newspaper (it was on Ynet yesterday, their internet site). According to Israeli security forces, a man drove his car directly into a group of Border Patrol personnel, who were on hand to prevent a riot from breaking out while the hosue was being destroyed. According to local residents, the man was on his way to the post office to pay bills...

Who knows. Twenty shots were fired into the car, he died.

Another family in mourning.

Do we care?

As we head into Pesach, the holiday of liberation and freedom, just take a moment and think of all of those who do not enjoy basic freedoms. And think of the part in you that wants to be free of caring, and recognize that true freedom can only exist if we sacrifice a little of our individual "freedom," and care about our fellow people, our world and it's future.

January 01, 2009

While we are still processing the bitter reality of having the bulk of our net worth wiped out by Madoff and his helper Merkin, I can say that I am blessed.

While we barely can digest the horror taking place (on all "sides") in the Gaza area (which is getting wider all the time, with rockets falling in Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Be'ersheva), I can say I am blessed.

While we begin 2009 no closer to a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian struggle for independence, I can say that I am blessed.

While our world is racing toward becoming more and more "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" (see Thomas Friedman's book for more on that), I can say that I am blessed.

Where are all these blessings you ask? Well, to my side stands my soulmate Haviva, who I love more than ever (and without her could not fathom facing any of the above). And then I look at our children (Michal, Adin, Meira, Hallel, Nachum, and Mishael. I think of my parents, Don and Esther, and my sister Phyllis and her family, my in-laws Dan and Ruth, Haviva's siblings, and our crazy network of friends all over the world.

We are living in Jerusalem, after 3,000 years of history, playing our part. We are truly blessed. Now lets pray that in 2009 we can put aside the curses of war, greed, jealousy, famine, and poverty and spread blessings of love, peace and prosperity.

December 10, 2008

Later this week, my friend and soulmate of more than 20 years, Yosef Israel Abramowitz will stand in the primaries of a new political party, the Green Movement. Hastily put together, as all activist endeavors are, in the face of the new/old political machines of the new/old State of Israel, Yosef and the other candidates are running on the winds of change.

For the first time since becoming an Israeli citizen (formally in 1996) I joined a political party, because Yosef, Alon Tal, and the other founders of this new party took the time to write a 17 page platform that speaks to the holisitic incredible potential of this experiment known as the State of Israel. (Yes...Israel is still very much an experiment, with many mistakes made along the way, in the search for the "right" formula -- more on that another time).

Not since the late Menachem Begin of blessed memory left the political stage have we been led by people with a Jewish world view. Gevalt, you say, how could I so easily besmirch leaders such as Rabin of blessed memory, Netanyahu, Peres, Barak, Livni, and more, who have devoted their lives to the Jewish people and State. Yes, they have, but unfortunately they do not think or express themselves in a deeply Jewish manner. Once in a blue moon Peres can pull from deep down, reaching back 70-80 years and express a Jewish longing, but most of the time he sounds like a nice UN diplomat with a funny accent. And the rest? Sigh...very shallow professional politicians that wouldn't recognize the Jewish people walking down the street.

My hope for the Green Movement, is that like Greens all over the world, they go way beyond formalistic "environment" issues, and speak to the Jewish hope for a better world. Starting here, and then speaking out to the world. As Jews. Creating a Jewish State. To me, the ultimate Green is someone who is concerned about more than him/herself. Which is the Jewish ideal.

Why aren't I running for Knesset? Nu, my father asks the same question. For now I am supporting Yosef Abramowitz and the rest of the Green Movement in their knesset bid.

If you have the time, come this Friday morning to the Kibbutz Seminar campus in Tel Aviv to watch history in the making, as the Green Movement holds it first primaries (and if by chance you are a member, vote for Yosef!).

July 22, 2008

As you might have heard, another attack occurred in Jerusalem today, with a resident of East Jerusalem using a tractor as a weapon of mass destruction. The tragic irony of using a tool intended for construction purposes as an instrument of terror is not lost on anyone.

And as usual, only a few hours separated me from the awful events. Drove past with my daughter only few hours before. Was there yesterday. Barack Obama is there tonight, Gordon Brown was there yesterday. Literally at the crossroads of the [Western] world.

How do we in Jerusalem carry on? Well, part of us turns off. Grows numb. We built up these ways of coping with almost constant horror during the years 2001-2004, when barely a week went by without someone blowing themselves up, and yet we had lives to lead. But that is not all--if it was I and my family would have left here long ago.

There is also still a part of us that believes in a better tomorrow. And that somehow, in some way, we can help contribute to bringing that better tomorrow closer, making it a reality.

For now, let us pray that the dozens of innocent hurt in todays attack enjoy a speedy recovery, as best as science will allow (already a report that one person lost his leg when his car was crushed). And pray as well for a better tomorrow. And tomorrow morning, after a few hours of fitful sleep, may we have the strength to do something to make it a better day than today.

July 03, 2008

After experiencing the horror of yesterday's attack in Jerusalem, at a place I pass 2-3 times a week, I have no real words. Obviously allover the world there are individuals who due to mental breakdown act out in awful ways. But in Jerusalem, gevalt, in Jerusalem we feel the pain even more. So much destruction with an instrument of construction, intended to help create a better tomorrow for all of the residents of Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem we know how to mourn, but at the same time we know that we need to pray again, to sing again, and yes, to dance. Recognize the pain, the sorrow, the loss, but rejoice in the possibility of a better tomorrow. Take a look at this yiddel, expressing in prayer all the emotions. May we only know joy from this day forward.

May 07, 2008

I was standing at our local community center Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) ceremony last night when I looked around and noticed my friend Aharon Horwitz (for more on him and his projects see here ) there as well, along with many other friends and neighbors, a true local community recognition of a national event. When I got home, and checked my email, found reflections that Aharon had already written and sent out, and far more articulate and personal than anything I would say. So Aharon is my guest blogger for the day:

Dear friends,

On Yom Hazikaron I try to personally honor--and ask those I
know to as well--two soldiers from my unit (Nachal 931, August '99 draft) who
died in service: Dani Cohen and Shani Turgeman.

Standing tonight at the
Baka community memorial ceremony my thoughts were already on Dani when, to my
surprise, a boy from Bnei Akiva read aloud to the community about him. Dani, so
it turns out, was a counselor at the neighborhood chapter. I didn't expect that,
didn't even realize that I was daily walking the neighborhood bereft of Dani,
the same neighborhood he'd invited me home to for Shabbat in the year 2000 (how
I wish I'd taken him up on that invitation). Dani's name joined tens of others,
sons and daughters of the assembled bereaved who sat among the rest of us
mourners. Seeing the families and accompanying friends and community members
reminded me that a soldier in Israel is never alone, accompanied as he or she is
by the hopes and dreams of a country, and by the love and firm faith of a
family. So much is risked on every soldier we send out. So much is lost when
they fall.

I, like each of you, honor those like Dani and Shani who
sacrificed for their friends, fellow soldiers, and for all of Israel, and pray
this Yom Hazikaron for the day when no more soldiers will be added to the lists
of fallen. The mitzva of Yom Hazikaron must be to rededicate ourselves to
personally striving for that future day. As Dani wrote in a letter of
premonition to his parents, "the point of life is to be the part of the puzzle
you were meant to be to the best of your ability....to give rise to future
generations better than yourself either by influencing your children or those
around you. I, it seems, am destined to be one of those who had to make his
difference by impacting those around me." To me that is the undying call to us
from these who have fallen in service: one's life is to be spent--as theirs
was--in pursuit of a better future for those who come after. And in that sense,
both Dani and Shani lived life to the fullest.

Dani died in the November
2002 battle near Ma'arat HaMachpelah in Hebron. Shani, serving in the reserves,
was killed near Lebanon during the attack that lead to the kidnapping of Regev
and Goldwasser. May their memories continue to inspire the
living.

March 28, 2008

My father always says, when you want something done give it to a busy person to do...I've lived long enough to agree with him. But that doesn't mean that busy=efficient. I still am struggling with time management, as I have mentioned before in these "pages." In addition, there is a ordering of priorities that needs to take place, to find the place that best suits you in the life/work balance.

With six kids, multiple civic commitments, and running a start-up venture fund, I know what busy is -- and I know what can happen when you lose control over true priorities.

Anyway, yesterday was the annual Jerusalem Marathon, which is really a half marathon (21.1 kilometers). I pledged I would train, I told myself to get to bed early the night before. I didn't train at all, in fact only ran twice in the past month. Work, new baby in the house, etc.

The night before the race, I said, ok, now I need to get to bed early. My 9 year old daughter comes to me at 10 PM and says, "Abba, you need to sew my skirt -- my dance recital is tomorrow and we need to wear THIS skirt." I thought, oy, a button fell off, who has time for that...but then she held up a large piece of cloth, a strip of elastic, and scissors. I have never made any article of clothing before, let alone a skirt. I took a deep breath, and having realized that my highest priority at that moment was my beautiful daughter, I sat down with her and a needle and thread. After half an hour, threaded the needle. 2 hours later, we had a passable skirt.

Time management is important, and I need to get better at it, but priorities need to be order. Nothing was more important than that skirt.

Oh, and how did I do in the [half] Marathon? My best time ever in Jerusalem, 1:56. I guess sewing helps running...;-).